Colorado Parks and Wildlife Declares Emergency Fish Salvage at Rapidly Drying Nee Noshe Reservoir

EADS, Colorado — Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has officially authorized an emergency public fish salvage at Nee Noshe Reservoir on the state's Eastern Plains. Effective Monday, June 1, 2026, the state agency has suspended all size, bag, and possession limits for the reservoir to encourage anglers to harvest the remaining fish populations before the habitat completely dries up.

The severe measure follows a multi-year combination of intense regional drought and reduced reservoir operational capacities. Located within the Queens State Wildlife Area in Kiowa County—approximately 12 miles south of Eads and 21 miles north of Lamar—Nee Noshe Reservoir is drying rapidly and is not projected to refill at any point in the foreseeable future.

A Rapidly Vanishing Fishery Resource

Realizing that the entire local aquatic ecosystem could soon be completely lost, state biologists initiated the salvage order to optimize the community utilization of the natural resource rather than letting the wildlife perish. Jim Ramsay, a CPW Aquatic Biologist, emphasized the gravity of the hydrological outlook.

"Nee Noshe Reservoir is experiencing the effects of ongoing drought and reduced reservoir operations, and current conditions indicate the reservoir is unlikely to refill in the foreseeable future," Ramsay explained. "With the potential loss of the fishery, this public salvage gives anglers an opportunity to utilize the resource while conditions still allow."

The reservoir has long served as a premier destination for regional anglers, historically boasting healthy populations of sport fish, including walleye, saugeye, wiper, channel catfish, crappie, and largemouth bass.

Guidelines and Regulations for Anglers

While the emergency declaration removes restriction limits on fish sizes and catches, CPW officials note that standard wildlife laws and structural boundary rules remain actively enforced. Key guidelines for participating anglers include:

* A valid Colorado fishing license is strictly required for all participants in accordance with statutory state law.

* The emergency suspension of bag, possession, and size limits applies exclusively to Nee Noshe Reservoir; neighboring bodies of water within the Queens State Wildlife Area retain standard restrictions.

* Anglers must only use sport fishing methods that are currently deemed legal at the reservoir. Advanced commercial equipment, netting arrays, or unauthorized harvest methods remain strictly prohibited.

State officials will track the remaining water line and evaluate fish densities in the coming weeks. Official notifications regarding the continuation or sudden closure of the emergency salvage will be physically posted via signage directly at the reservoir entrances. CPW will issue a formal public conclusion date once the salvage operation is deemed complete or environmental conditions shift.

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